Sunday, December 30, 2007

Femme Fatale



This is the first collage I have done since before Christmas. It was hard to get back in the groove of creating, as it has been quite a while and also I have come down with the "post-Christmas cold." At least it waited this long to strike and at least I am the only one in the house afflicted so far. I prepped two more canvases today and hopefully tomorrow I will be visited by a muse and will make it back into my studio, which nowadays needs the space heater to be tolerable.

So for my last post of 2007, I wish you all a glorious new year and all the blessings you so deserve. You have done much for this artist's heart and soul through your supportive and kind comments. THANK YOU.

© Nancy Lefko

Friday, December 28, 2007

Illustration Friday ~ Soar



True and passionate love...it makes the heart SOAR.

© Nancy Lefko

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Sewing Mom



This collage was done as a Christmas present for a friend's mom. It is one of a few custom pieces I have made lately. I find it lots of fun to create for a SPECIFIC person and to bounce ideas off a customer and create exactly what they are looking for. (If you are interested in a custom collage, see the link on this blog.)

© Nancy Lefko

Monday, December 24, 2007

"Merry Christmas to All !!"



My most sincere wish to all of you for a blessed Christmas filled with the warmth of family and friends. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the kind comments that you send my way. Your words mean a great deal to me and are most appreciated. All the best to you in the new year !!

Friday, December 21, 2007

Illustration Friday ~ Horizon



This Christmas season, I am feeling especially homesick for my roots...New York, that is. I wish that it were right over the HORIZON and I could be immersed in all that is New York at Christmastime. But alas, it is much farther away than that and I suppose I'll have to settle for watching Christmas movies set in New York. Maybe tonight it will be 'Serendipity'...a little skating in Central Park, dessert in a quaint cafe, shopping at Bloomingdale's...sounds lovely.

© Nancy Lefko

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Merry Christmas to all the Moms !



Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited their doctor's office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, 'Yes, Mommy' to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting 'Don't eat in the living room' and 'Take your hands off your brother,' because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.

Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,

MOM

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children, healthy, safe and of course, young enough to always believe in Santa.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Illustration Friday ~ Backwards




This gal has the right idea, but some people get things BACKWARDS...they believe the reverse is true. I think it's a sad state of affairs when someone needs to walk around with a phone attached to their ear! But maybe I'm just old-fashioned.

© Nancy Lefko

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Mata Hari



I have found it difficult to make time in my studio lately. I know I should be trying to make as much art as I can, to sell at this time of year, but the demands of the season are upon me. I don't know where I'd be without internet shopping, but I still need to get to the stores and this week of bad weather doesn't help. Yesterday, with a delayed school opening, and the roads just nasty, I stayed at home and was able to create two new collages which are now on ebay. Of course, that still leaves the cards to finish, the wrapping to begin, the cookies to bake....yikes !!

© Nancy Lefko

Friday, December 7, 2007

Illustration Friday ~ Little Things



Such dear sweet little things...they bring magic into our lives. They certainly bring a special sense of wonder to the Christmas season and all who share their company are blessed.

© Nancy Lefko

Thank You, Diane !



The wonderfully talented Diane of Duda Daze has given to me the "You Make Me Smile Award." It pleases me greatly as Diane's paintings ALWAYS make ME smile ! I am happy that I can return the favor with my collages. Please visit her blog for a smile. I will pass along this award to Ginger and Lindsay who both do so much to brighten my days. There is great joy to be found on both Ginger and Lindsay's blogs.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Getting Ready



The excitment factor at our house is growing daily...especially for my youngest. He is singing carols and watching Rudolph and Santa programs every day. I love enjoying the Christmas season through the eyes of my child. It is one of the many things I will miss most when he is grown. For now, I am savoring every moment. Remember, "seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing."

© Nancy Lefko

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Illustration Friday ~ Excess



For this Illustration Friday topic, it seemed apparent that one of the gals would take center stage. Marjorie seemed the perfect fit, as she parties to EXCESS. That must be what makes her parties legendary.

© Nancy Lefko